Julian Clary, author Joseph Delaney and actor/comic Terry Alderton are the latest names to be confirmed for a new addition to Lytham Festival ‘The Authors, Live at the Big Top’ 

Celebrity Comedian Julian Clary will show a side of him new to many as he discusses his first children’s book, ‘The Bolds’, alongside acclaimed illustrator David Roberts. Clary says: “I wanted to write a children’s book to relive the thrill I used to get as a child entering a fictional world. The idea came from stories I used to make up for myself as a child, and I grew up in Teddington – a very suburban place with tree-lined streets and a nice park – so it seemed right and proper to set it there. I am thrilled to have the wonderful illustrator David Roberts bring The Bolds to life for me. He has the ability to convey my humour brilliantly and his drawings are always funny and endearing. Mrs Bold’s hats are a particular delight!”

Joseph Delaney, the hugely popular Lancashire-born sci-fi and fantasy author, will discuss his body of work including ‘The Spook’s Apprentice’. Delaney’s book inspired the film ‘The Seventh Son’, a box office smash hit starring Oscar winner Julianne Moore, Jeff Bridges and Kit Harrington. Meanwhile Carnegie nominee Phil Earle will offer fun for all the family as he chats to fans about his book ‘Demolition Dad’. To mark the 150th anniversary of TS Eliot’s ‘Alice In Wonderland’ the much-loved author Cathy Cassidy will present thoughts on her book ‘Looking Glass Girl’, a thoroughly modern take on the classic.

Ribs will be tickled in a venue new to Lytham Festival, the Comedy tent at Park View 4 U. Terry Alderton has graced our screens in ‘Live At The Apollo’ and taken to stages at comedy festivals as away far as Australia and New Zealand. Alderton, known to many as a former member of the Eastenders cast, will now to head north for Lytham Festival and will be supported by Lytham’s own Phil Walker. Also on offer will be an evening filled with laughs courtesy of four comedy gems; Comedy Store regular Steve Shanyaski and the extremely zany Wes Zaharuk, BBC Comedy Awards finalist Steve Harris and Perrier Award nominee Simon Bligh. These four names appear in a night entitled 'The very best of Woofers comedy club', hosted by Phil Walker.

Also appearing as part of The Authors, Live At The Big Top will be Chris Mould, Liz Kessler and Julian Sedgwick.

Lytham Festival Director Peter Taylor comments: ‘I am so excited to add these events to Lytham Festival, proving that we are really making this a true arts festival. Whilst we appreciate we’ve had a limited appeal in the past, we hope now that we are able to offer something for all ages, and most importantly all budgets!. The sun is starting to shine and its beginning to feel like ‘Festival Season’ and I think we’ve now got an offering to make people think about choosing Lytham as the place to come this summer.'

LINE UP

Proms Arena, Lytham Green

Thurs 6th Faithless

Fri 7th ‘80s VS 90s’ Billy Ocean, 5ive, Jimmy Sommerville, Chesney Hawkes, Sinitta, East 17, Venga Boys

Sat 8th McBusted

Sun 9th ‘Songs from Stage & Screen’ Marti Pellow and Elaine Paige accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra plus guests Jonathan Antoine and Laura Wright

Pavilion Stage, Lowther Pavilion

Sun 2nd Aug Rae Morris

Mon 3rd Tenors of Rock

Tues 4th Rebecca Ferguson

Wed 5th Scouting For Girls

Thurs 6th Chicane, the official Faithless after party

Fri 7th ‘Adam & Eve’ 80s clubnight , the official ‘80s VS 90s’ show after party

The Redrow Jazz Café at The Assembly Rooms

Mon 3rd Aug Sara Creeney

Wed 5th Ukebox

Thurs 6th Dub Jazz Sound System

The Big Top @ Park View 4 U

Fri 7th Aug Phil Earle, Chris Mould, Joseph Delaney

Sat 8th Cathy Cassidy, Liz Kessler

Sun 9th Julian Clary and David Roberts

Comedy Tent at Park View 4 U

Mon 2nd Aug Phil Walker, Steve Shanyaski, Wes Zaharuk, Simon Bligh, Steve Harris

Tues 3rd Terry Alderton

Picnic Cinema

Tues 4th Aug Grease

Wed 5th Moulin Rouge